Shahid Afridi retained as Pak captain for ICC World Cup: Intikhab Alam
February 4th, 2011 - 12:20 pm ICT by ANILahore, Feb 4(ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to retain Shahid Afridi as captain to lead the national squad in the ICC World Cup, which will be held from February 19 to April 2 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam made this claim while talking to media persons after Pakistan won an ODI series against Kiwis by 3-1 after a gap of 17 years in New Zealand, Geo TV reported.
The PCB had announced Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the mega event on January 18, but astonished everyone by not announcing a skipper for the team.
Earlier this week, PCB chief Ijaz Butt told Pakistani media persons in Napier that the team captain for the forthcoming World Cup would be announced on February 4, a day before the final match of their ongoing one-day series against New Zealand.
“We will announce the captain on February 4, that is decided now,” Butt was quoted, as saying.Pakistan’s current limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and Test skipper Misbahul Haq were the two contenders for leading the team in the World Cup.Though former players blasted the PCB, saying the decision to delay the announcement of the captain’s name was likely to harm the team’s unity, both contenders downplayed the ongoing row.”It would not be an issue for me if I am removed from captaincy,” Afridi was quoted as saying.”It doesn’t make a difference whether Misbah leads the side or I lead the side because we both are playing for our country,” he added.
Afridi also dismissed reports of differences with Misbah, saying, “We don’t have any differences. He is a good player who remains focused on his job.”
Misbah also came out in Afridi’s support, saying that he had been doing a good job as the captain of the one-day team and had gelled the players well together.
“I think Shahid has done a great job as captain and he has kept the team together and every player is contributing and wants to do well. He has led well,” Misbah said.
“The team has gelled well. Whoever is the captain, everyone will play for the team and for the country,” he maintained. (ANI)
- Contenders Afridi, Misbah have "no issues" over Pak captaincy for World Cup 2011 - Feb 03, 2011
- PCB most likely to retain Afridi as Pak captain for World Cup 2011 - Feb 01, 2011
- PCB boss Butt 'secretly' leaves for NZ to decide on Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 21, 2011
- Afridi to captain at World Cup - Feb 04, 2011
- 'Competitor' Misbah says Afridi "doing good job" as Pak ODI skipper - Feb 02, 2011
- Former players blast PCB for not naming Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 19, 2011
- Sacking Afridi was a big mistake: Akram - May 21, 2011
- Afridi "not worried" about losing Pakistan captaincy - Jan 19, 2011
- Misbah ideal man to lead Pak in World Cup, says Salman Butt - Jan 24, 2011
- PCB chief leaves for New Zealand to decide on WC captain - Jan 20, 2011
- 'Disagreements within PCB' reason behind not naming Pak captain for World Cup: Latif - Jan 26, 2011
- Afridi can't be made captain again: Butt - Jul 08, 2011
- Pakistan announce World Cup squad without a captain - Jan 18, 2011
- PCB divided over retaining Afridi as Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 17, 2011
- Afridi's loss in NZ will be Misbah's gain in Pak WC captaincy issue: Aamir Sohail - Jan 27, 2011
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